Overview
- Erasmus announced the 37‑man touring squad on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, and the six uncapped call‑ups are Yaqeen Ahmed, Sebastian de Klerk, Luan Giliomee, Markus Muller, Riley Norton and Emmanuel Tshituka.
- Cheslin Kolbe, Eben Etzebeth, André Esterhuizen and Handré Pollard were ruled out through injury, leaving the Boks without a combined c.324 Test appearances of experience.
- The team will assemble in Italy in groups because of ongoing club fixtures and will play Italy (7 November), France (13 November) and Ireland (21 November) before the Nations Championship Finals Weekend in London (27–29 November).
- Erasmus said the selections are deliberate depth building and most newcomers have prior exposure to national pathways such as SA A, Junior Springboks and alignment camps.
- South Africa top the Southern Hemisphere table on points difference, level on 15 points with New Zealand, and the November tour will both test the new faces and shape the squad for the next World Cup cycle.